Innovation through Research and Development

Innovation Is a Tradition
Research activities at voestalpine have played a central role ever since the inception of the company. Research has shaped the world we now know. From the LD steelmaking method, which makes highest-quality grades of steel possible, to the utilization of waste plastics in the blast furnaces at voestalpine in order to save crude oil and reduce CO2 emissions. It was voestalpine that was initially involved in the development of materials that can guarantee up to fifty years of corrosion resistance. Thanks to research and development, what seemed to be a utopia just a few short years ago is now something we all take for granted.

Driven by Curiosity
It is part of a researcher’s occupation to be curious. They love tinkering around, investigating and delving into the realities of new worlds. But they don’t do this all alone in a secluded room. They are constantly collaborating with other professionals who have excelled in their respective fields of expertise. They communicate frequently with universities, laboratories and scientific networks. And of course they are involved in the development work of our customers. The customer is the final beneficiary of research results. The dreams of today are the applications of tomorrow. Our slogan “one step ahead” is almost an understatement for our research and development teams because they know today what will be on our streets and in our houses tomorrow.

It Begins with a Vision.
The beginning of every research process is a common vision, a vision of a material with just the right properties. The steel grades of today can be analyzed on a molecular level. Thanks to the most modern technologies available, our researchers take an expedition to unknown territory every day. They learn new things every day about materials, processes and applications. Theoretical simulations aid them in their quest for practical steel applications. Numerous practical trials help them understand the behavior of steel as a material and components made of steel.

Visions Require Organization.
Among all of the “madness” in the form of freedom that is necessary in research and development, there must also be a certain level of clear organization. For this reason, central research is flanked by several decentralized development departments. A broad spectrum of knowledge coupled with expertise creates just the right atmosphere for new discoveries. Perfect coordination and communication are just as valuable as the most modern laboratory. The quiet and introverted researcher is actually found only in fairy tales.

True Enthusiasm Overcomes Any Obstacle
Researchers and developers at voestalpine have defined very clear objectives so that they do not become lost in the gigantic world of science. Emphasis is placed on the development of multi-phase steels and on the conservative utilization of resources by using the most modern technologies. Multi-phase steels are true works of wonder. They unite the most advanced formability with higher stability, best tensile strength and lower weight, thus improving the design and crash behavior and conserving weight and resources. The conservation of weight and resources is a central environmental objective that has become a tradition at voestalpine. Thanks to developments at voestalpine and efforts put forth by others, Linz has become the cleanest steelmaking location in the world. Efforts put forth in the interest of a cleaner environment do not stop at technological limits. Our ability to further reduce CO2 output in the steelmaking industry has currently reached its technical limits, but that does not stop us from looking for alternative and creative solutions to this problem. True enthusiasm knows no limits.

Finding the Needle in the Hay Stack
Every day our researchers analyze an average of 700 chemical samples and conduct a total of 850 mechanical tests. The results of these tests form the foundation for the development of innovative materials. The range of deviation is so small that our testing specialists would find a grain of wheat in 2,000 wagons filled with rye. No wonder, in view of these requirements, that perfect steel saves hundreds of car drivers’ lives every day on the roadway. Steel safely protects us from aggressive natural gas two thousand meters under the ocean’s surface. Steel in the form of turbines produces clean energy in wind farms and hydro-electric power plants. Research and development plays an important role in these technologies as well.

Facts and Figures

• Research and development activities with more than 40 scientific partners (20 universities and 25 research institutions)
• R&D employees: 196 (in R&D departments, testing departments and quality assurance centers
• Research budget for the current business year: 38 million euros
• R&D coefficient as measured by added value: 3.15%